Chain tongs



y 1931; J. PHILLIPS- 1,803,867

CHAIN TONGS Filed Feb. 19, 1930 gmiyzkzia 5 WW ATTORNEY Patented May 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE JAMES I. PHILLIPS, OF MANNINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ERNEST BARGEB MILLER, CF TULSA, *OKLAHOMA CHAIN TON GS Application filed February 19, 1930. Serial No. 429,525.

This invention relates broadly to pipe tongs,.and more specifically to tongs of chain type.

The primary object of the invention is to [5 provide an improved construction of tongs embodying separated jaws between which one end of a work embracing chain is permanently attached and between which the opposite end of said chain is adapted to be detachably mounted, said chain being adapted to cooperate with said jaws for firmly engaging or grasping the pipe or other cylindrical object to be acted upon.

A further object is to provide in tongs of the character mentioned an attaching device for the detachable end of the chain, and

means associated with said device whereby the latter is maintained securely in chain holding position and also whereby, when cletachment of the chain is desired, said device is easily and conveniently released to permit the chain to'become automatically detached or released.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the features of construction, arrangement of parts and combinations of elements which will hereinafter be fully described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention applied in operative relation to a pipe; Figure 2 is a top plan view, partly in broken section;

Fi ure 3 is a view similar to Fi l withone of the jaws detached;

Figure l is an enlarged section on line 4-4, Fig. 2, showing the rotary sleeve disposed for securing the pivoted chain-latch in its lowered chain-holding position;

Figure 5 is a similar section showing the sleeve disposed in elevating relation to said latch Figure 6 is an enlarged top plan View of the chain-latch, detached;

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the same partially broken; and- Figure 8 is a section on line 8-8, Fig. 2.

Referring to said drawings, 1 designates a handle having. on its front end a head 2 which, preferably, possesses oblong rectangular form and which is bifurcated at its front end, forming parallel members Q. Mounted upon the opposite sides of said head in parallel. relation are two correspondingly shaped aws 3, there being provided in the inner face of each jaw a shallow recess, or countersunk seat, 4 within which is received said sides of the head and which provide such engagement between said jaws and head as prevents relative turning movement of said parts. An attaching bolt 5 directed through said jaws and through the intermediate bifurcated portion of said head rig idly secures said jaws in place.

The portion of the bolt 5 located between the members 2 of the bifurcated head constitutes a pivot upon which is mounted a terminal link or member of a flexible chain 6 which is adapted to be passed closely about the object to be acted upon, as a pipe 7, for maintaining the latter in closely seated relation to the adjacent toothed working'faces 3 of said jaws. Said jaws, as herein shown, have opposite faces thereof toothed or serrated, thus providing for reversal thereof when one of said faces becomes worn or otherwise injured.

A'pivoted latch 8 with which the free end portion of the chain 6' is adapted to bev engaged is mounted between the jaws 3 at one side of the head 2. Said latch comprises a substantially fiat, or plate-like, body portion which,in its normal chain-holding position, rests in seated relation to the adjacent side of said head. Parallel upright side walls 9 are formed integral. with the latch body 8 and define an intermediate channel adapted for the reception of the free, or detachable, end portion of the chain. The forward ends oftsaid side walls rise to a materially greater height than do other portions thereof, forming upstanding hook-like members 10 with which may engage the 0pposite projecting trunnion-like ends of the pivot pins 11 by which the links of the chain are connected.

Trunnions 12 formed on opposite sides of the front end of the latch are mounted for rotary movements in sockets 13 provided therefor in the inner. faces of the jaws 8.

With the latch held in its normal seated position, the thereto-attached end of the chain is securely held against chance displacement; but when said latch is free to rotate on its trunnions 12, the force exerted on its hook portions or members 10 by the chain, when the latter is under tension, ordinarily acts to rock it forward to a position, as that indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, at which the chain automatically becomes disengaged, or released, therefrom. For rigidly securing said latch in its said normal, or operative, position, a sleeve 14 is mounted for rotary movement on the handle 1 rearward of the head 2 and jaws 3, said sleeve having a forward cylindrical end portion 15 of bell-like, or skirt, form adapted to be moved into and out of overlying relation to a tail-piece 16 which is formed on the rear end of said latch body and which, in said operative position of the latch, projects rearwardly from between said jaws, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The skirt portion 15 of the rotary sleeve 14 has the terminal edge thereof cut away or recessed at one side to form a passage 17 through which the tail piece 16 of the latch may be lowered and elevated, respectively, when the latter is being moved to and away from its operative, or chain-holding, position. Following introduction of said tailpiecethrough said passage 17, the sleeve 14 is rotated to the right to carry the adjacent portion of said skirt into overlying retaining relation to said tail-piece, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

For facilitating the riding of the sleeve into such relation to said tail piece, the foremost edge of the skirt is interiorly beveled, as shown at 18. At the limit of such righthand movement of the sleeve, a shoulder 19 formed on the rear end of said sleeve abuts upon a limit-pin or stop 20 fixed in the handle, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Assuming that the detachable end of the chain 6 hasbeen engaged with the hook portions of the latch 8 prior to moving the latter to its seated, or operative, position, said chain will be secured against detachment during the time that said position of the latch is maintained by means of said sleeve as aforesaid. However, when the sleeve is rotated in reverse direction to the point at which the tail-piece is elevatable through the passage 17 of the skirt 15, the latchbecomes released and, under the force exerted by the chain, is ordinarily rocked forward to a position wherein the therewith engaged end of the chain is automatically released.

To provide means whereby-the latch may be forcibly elevated to permit of release of the attached chain, as when such elevating movement is interfered with or prevented by mud or other foreign matter accumulated between the jaws 3, the rearmost recessdefining edge portion of the skirt 15 is inclined inwardly to form an eccentric or camlike nose 21 which is adapted, in reverse rotary movement of the sleeve, to engage a beveled surface 22 provided on the adjacent edge of the tail-piece of s'aid latch and, with continuation of said movement, forcibly to elevate said latch, the tail-piece riding upon the outer surface of said nose to the position shown in Fig. 5. So elevated, said latch will readily rotate forward to chain releasing position.

A second shoulder 23 corresponding to the shoulder 19 is formed on the rear end of the sleeve at a suitable point located in opposing relation to said shoulder 19 for limiting the extent of reverse rotary movement of said sleeve, the same being engageable with said stop 20.

As a means for holding the sleeve against chance rotation from the position in which it serves to retain the latch in its lowered, or operative, position, a resilient leaf-like spring 2% having formed on its outer face a lug or rib 25 has one end mounted upon the side of the head 2 between the jaws 3 and has'its opposite end projecting rearwardly and permanently received within the em brace of the skirt 15. hen the skirt occupies retaining relation to the latch, as aforesaid, the rib 25 occupies seated relation to a shallow notchlike recess 26 provided therefor at a proper point located in the interior face of said skirt, as is shown in Figs. 3, 4t and 5.

lVhat is claimed is- 1. In tongs of the character described, a handle having a head, jaws carried on opposite sides of said head, a pivoted latch disposed intermediate said jaws and having hook-like members at its front end, a chain pivoted at one end to said head, the linkconnecting pivot-pins of the free end portion of said chain having projecting ends engageable with said hook members, said latch having a tail-piece, and sleeve-like means mounted for rotary movement on said handle and having a skirt portion which is engageable with said tail-piece for maintaining said latch in chain-holding position.

2. In tongs of the character described, a handle having a head, jaws carried on opposite sides of said head, a pivoted latch disposed intermediate said jaws and having hook-like members at its front end, a chain having one end mounted in pivotalrelation to said head, said chain having link-connecting pivot pins with projecting ends adapted for engagement with said hook members, said latch having a rearward extension, and rotary means movable into and out of engagement with said extension whereby the latch is held in its .chain retaining position, said means having rotary movement on said handle as an axis.

3. In tongs of the character described, a handle having a head, aws carried on opposite sides of said head, a pivoted latch disposed intermediate said jaws and having hook-like members at its front end, a chain having one end mounted in pivotal relation to said head, said chain having link-connect ing pivot pins with projecting ends adapted for engagement with said hook members, said latch having a rearward extension, and a sleeve mounted for rotary movement relative to said handle and having a skirt portion adapted by rotary movements of said sleeve to be carried into and out of embracing relation to said extension whereby the latter is respectively secured against and released to permit rotation of the latch to its elevated chain releasing position.

l. In ton 's of the character described, a handle having a head, jaws carried 11 opposite sides of said head, a pivoted latch disposed intermediate jaws and having hook-like members at its front end, a chain having one end mounted in pivotal relation to said head, said chain having link-connecting pivot pins with projecting ends adapt d for engagement with said hook members, said latch having a rearward extension, and a sleeve mounted for rotary movement relative to said handle, said sleeve having a flared skirt portion recessed at one side to permit introduction and removal of said extension relative to said portion, said skirt being adapted by rotary movement of said sleeve to be carried into and out of overlying movement-preventing relation to said extension.

5. In tongs of the charader described, a handle having a head, j carried on opposite sides of said head, a pivoted latch dis posed intermediate said jaws and having hook-like members at its front end, a chain having. one end mounted in pivotal relation to said head, said chain having link-coir necting pivot pins with projecting ends adapted for engagement with said hook members, said latch having rearward extension, and a sleeve mounted for rotary movement relative to said handle, s id sleeve having a tiered shirt portion recessed at one side to provide a passageway for sair extension in lowering and elevating movements or said latch, said skirt being rotatable with said sleeve into and out of overlying retairing relation to said extension.

6. In tongs or the character described, a handle having head, aws carried on opposite sides of said heat, a pivoted latch disposed intermediate said jaws and having hook-like members at its front end, a chain having, one end mounted in pivotal relation to said head, said chain having link-connecting pivot p with projec ing ends adapted for engagement with said hook members, said latch having a rearward extension, and

a. sleeve mounted for rotary movement relative to said handle and having a skirt p1ortion adaptedby rotary movements of said sleeve to be carried into and out of embracing relation to said extension whereby the latter is respectively secured against and released to permit rotation of the latch to' its elevated chain releasing position, said skirt embodying means engageable with said extension upon reverse rotary movement of the sleeve whereby said extension is elevated to initiate movement of the latch to chainreleasing position.

7 In tongs of the character described, a handle having a head, jaws carried. on opposite sides of said head, a pivoted latch disposed intermediate said jaws and havinghook-like members at its front end, a chain having one end mounted in pivotal relation to said head, said chain having link-connecting pivot pins with projecting ends adapted for engagement with said hook members, said latch haviin arearward extension, and a sleeve mounted for rotary movement relative to said handle, said sleeve having a flared skirt portion recessed at one side to provide a passageway for said extension in lowering and elevating movements of said latch, said skirt being rotatable with said sleeve into and out of overlying retaining relation to said extension, and embodying means engageable with said extension upon reverse rotary movement thereof whereby said extension is elevated to initiate movement of the latch to chain-releasing position.

8. In tongs of the character described, a handle having a head, jaws carried on opposite sides of said head, a pivoted latch disposed intermediate said jaws and having hook-like members at its front end, a chain having one end mounted in pivotal relation to said head, said chain having link-connecting pivot pins with projecting ends adapted for engagement with said hook members, said latch having a rearward extension, and rotary means movable into and out of engagement with said extension whereby the latch is held in its chain retaining position, said rotary means embodying means engageable with said extension whereby, upon reverse rotation of the first-mentioned means, said, extension is elevated to initiate movement of said latch toward chain-releasing position.

9. In tongs of the character described, a handle having a head, jaws carried on opposite sides of said head, a pivoted latch disposed intermediate said jaws and having hook-like members at its front end, a chain iaving one end mounted in pivotal relation to said head, said chain having link-coir necting pivot pins with projecting ends adapted for engagement with said hook members, said latch having a rearward extension, and means mounted and rotatable on said handle as an axis and movable into and out of engagement with said extension whereby the latch is held in its chain retaining position, and resilient means engageable with said rotary means and tending to hold the latter against chance rotation from its said latch-holding position.

10. In tongs of the character described, a handle having a head, jaws carried on opposite sides of said head, a pivoted latch disposed intermediate said jaws and having hook-like members at its front end, a cnain having one end mounted in pivotal relation to said head, said chain having link-connecting pivot pins with projecting ends adapted for engagement with said hook members, said latch having a rearward extension, a sleeve mounted for rotary move ment relative to said handle, said sleeve having a flared skirt portion recessed at one side to provide a passageway for said extension in lowering and elevating movements of said latch, said skirt being rotatable with said sleeve into and out of overlying retaining relation to said extension, and a resilient member engaged with said skirt when the latter occupies such overlying position and tending to prevent chance rotation of saidskirt from said position.

11. In tongs of the character described, the combination with a handle having a relatively fixed head, jaws carried in rigid relation to said head, a latch pivotally mounted between and in parallel relation to said aws at one side of said head, said latch having a hook portion, a chain having one end permanently connected to said head and having its opposite end engageable with said hook portion of said latch, said latch being rockable on its pivotal mounting to and from a position wherein said chain is freely receivable and releasable with respect to its said hook portion, and rotary means having said handle as an axis oi" rotation and engageabie with said latch whereby the latter may be secured against movement to chainreleasing position.

12. In tongs of the character described, the combination with a handle having a relatively fixed head, jaws carried in rigid relation to said head, a latch pivotally mounted between and in parallel relation to said jaws at one side of said head, said latch having a hook portion, a chain having one end permanently connected. to said head and having its opposite end engageable with said hook portion of said latch, said latch being rockable on its pivotal mounting for disposing said hook portion in chain attaching and releasing position, and rotary means mounted on said handle as an axis and engagcabie with said latch whereby the latter may be secured against movement from its chainholding position.

13. In tongs of the character described,

the combination with a handle having a; relatively fixed head, jaws carried in rigid relation to said head, a latch pivotally mounted between said jaws at one side of said head, said latch having a hook portion, a chain having one end permanently connected to said head and having its opposite end engagcable with said hook portion of said latch, said latch being rockable on its pivotal mounting for disposing said hook portion in chain attaching and releasing po sition, and a member mounted for rotary movements on said handle as an axis, said means including askirt portion adapted in such movements to be carried into and out of holding relation to said latch whereby the latter may be secured against movement from its chain-holding position.

14:. In tongs of the character cescribed, the combination with a handle having a relatively fixed head, jaws carried in rigid relation to said head, a latch pivotally mounted between said jaws at one side of saidhead, said latch having a hook portion, a chain having one end permanently connected to said head and having its opposite end engageable with said hook portion of said latch, said latch being rockable on its pivotal mounting for disposing said hook portion in chain attaching and releasing pos' ion, and means including a skirt portion rotatable on said handle as an axis into and out of holding relation to said latch whereby the latter may be secured against movement from its chain-holding position, said skirt portion having therein a recessed passageway through which said latch has entrance and exit with respect thereto.

15. In tongs of the character described, the combination with a handle, having a relatively fixed head, jaws carried in rigid relation to said head, a latch pivotallv mounted between said jaws at one side o t said head, said latch having a hook portion, a chain having one end permanently connected to said head and having its opposite end engageable with said hook portion of said latch, said latch being rockable on its pivotal mounting for disposing said hook portion in chain attaching and releasing position, and means including a skirt portion rotatable into and out of holding relation to said latch whereby the latter; may be secured against movement from its chainholding position, said skirt portion having a passageway in one side thereof through which a tail port-ion of said latch is insertible and removable and also embodying neans whereby, upon rotary movement of the skirt from latch retaining position, said tail portion is elevated outward through said passageway.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JAMES I. PHILLIPS. 

